Hanoi – November 10, 2013– The Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam, Vietnamese Women’s Museum, BoP Innovation Center, and Fresh Studio present “Supplying the market of tomorrow,” a one-day participatory conference at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on November 19th.

The food system in Vietnam is undergoing a profound transformation toward safe, healthy, and high-value products. Looking into the future, the conference will broaden the understanding of system interventions and explore opportunities for agribusiness collaborations bringing change to Vietnam.  Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, Vice Minister of the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr. H.E. Mr. Joop Scheffers, ambassador of the Netherlands in Vietnam, will be the opening keynote speakers.

This conference provides attendants with an exciting and informative program that includes plenary keynote speeches, participatory ‘world café’ discussions, an exhibition, and a marketplace with agro-food related demonstrations including IT innovations in agronomy, hydroponic lettuce cultivation, and blind taste tests.

Making safe and healthy food available for all requires experimentation, unconventional approaches, and multidisciplinary joint-efforts. “Our conference will bring together the brightest minds from both the public and private sectors. We invite those with a vested interest in growing businesses to satisfy Vietnamese consumers’ craving for safe and high-quality food sourced locally,” said Mr. Siebe van Wijk, General Director of Fresh Studio.

The conference attendants – including governments, businesses, retailers, farmers, and consumers – will share experiences and insights on their journey to create food systems for the future from production to trade.

Headlining the conference are leading experts from Vietnam and abroad including:

o   Dr. Nicolas Chevrollier – from the BoP Innovation Center in the Netherlands – who is an international leader in programs on innovation and ICT for development-

o   Mr. Rene Van Resen and Mrs. Sigrid Wertheim-Heck – Fresh Studio directors – who are leading creative and innovative solutions in horticulture, business development, marketing research, strategy, and brand management all over Asia.

o   Mr. Philippe Bacac, Managing Director of METRO Cash&Carry Ltd Vietnam and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cam Huyen, Operation Manager of The Fruit Republic – the pioneering businesses in the promotion of safe food trade in Vietnam

Responding to the challenges of supplying safe, healthy, and high-value food requires cross-cutting partnerships and cooperation. The conference aims to enable the matchmaking between different actors for the creation of actionable and future-oriented business ventures. An important highlight of the event is the afternoon ‘world café’ concept. The five thematic discussions in the world café are value chain development, horticulture, food safety and health, sourcing and logistics, and public-private partnerships. It will open a platform for participants to address the challenges in current food systems with creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial solutions.

For additional media materials including agenda, photos, panelists interview appointments, please contact:

Ms. Hà Lan Anh                     Email: anh.ha@freshstudio.vn     M + 84 (0) 904151515   (Fresh Studio)

Ms. Nguyễn Hương Lan       Email: lan.huong@minbuza.nl     M + 84 (0) 904 293 405  (Embassy of the Netherlands)

About the organizers

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam

http://www.hollandinvietnam.org/

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

http://www.womenmuseum.org.vn/

BoP Innovation Center

http://www.bopinc.org/

The BoP Innovation Center (BoPInc) accelerates the number and impact of inclusive innovations in low-income markets. Inclusive innovations serve the demand of the poor and create shared value for all stakeholders involved.

Fresh Studio

http://www.freshstudio.vn/

Fresh Studio is a food consulting company, assisting clients with every aspect of their food provision, from farm to fork, from sourcing to marketing. Dedicated to delivering enjoyment to consumers, Fresh Studio does so through sustainable business development. The scope of work ranges from agricultural inputs to fresh produce, processed goods, and end-consumer products.